50 Shades of Grey film won't be written by Bret Easton Ellis

Less Than Zero author Bret Easton Ellis left off a shortlist of screenwriters for the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey.

If music be the food of love... EMI will release a 50 Shades of Grey albumPhoto: Rex Features

By Nadia Khomami

The Telegraph 08 Aug 2012

Novelist Bret Easton Ellis has been left off the shortlist of screenwriters for the cinematic adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey.

According to the Hollywood reporter, Universal is considering four other writers for the position. These include Dan Fogelman, Veena Sud, Karen Croner and Kelly Marcel.

Fogelman is best known for writing the Disney Pixar sequel Car 2, while Sud adapted Danish crime series The Killing for US television.

Croner is working on film projects including Admission and Girl Soldier; and Marcel has written the forthcoming biographical drama Saving Mr Banks, starring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson.

After hearing news of his rejection, Bret Easton Ellis, who has previously expressed his interest in the role, sent out a message on Twitter that said: "It's a very major disappointment to announce that I've somehow been taken off the list of possible screenwriters for Fifty Shades of Grey.

“Thanks to the fans for the months of intense support. Your awesome enthusiasm and great suggestions were instructive and meaningful to me.”

Easton Ellis also tweeted his disappointment to Fifty Shades of Grey author E L James, which he has since deleted: “I hope you find someone as passionate as I was about Fifty Shades of Grey. I will miss it. Moving on. Laters, baby … Universal bought the rights to James’s erotic novel – now the bestselling book in British history – for $5 million in March. The studio is planning a trilogy based on Fifty Shades of Grey and its two sequels. The first film is being overseen by the producers of the Oscar-winning drama, The Social Network, Michael De Luca and Dana Brunetti. Easton Ellis had previously compared the character of Christian Grey in EL James's book to his own infamous protagonist from American Psycho, Patrick Bateman. His suggestions of actors to play the part of the sadomasochistic billionaire Grey included actors Tom Hardy, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, and US Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte. Easton Ellis was earlier today accused of homophobia after claiming actor Matt Bomer, who has reportedly been billed by Universal to star in the movie, as unsuitable for the role due to his sexuality. "Okay I'll say it,” he wrote. “Matt Bomer isn't right for Christian Grey because he is openly gay. He's great for other roles but this is too big a game."